Chairman: Peter Knight - Camgrain

A Food Science graduate from the University of Nottingham, Peter began his career at RHM (now part of Premier Foods), before moving to Bowmans, a family milling concern. This was followed by a spell at Smith’s Flour Mills Ltd, a division of Northern Foods, based at Worksop, where he was Managing Director for 14 years. During this time he helped establish the Food and Drink Forum and was a founding Board Director.

In 2000, Peter was president of the National Association of British and Irish Millers. He is currently non-executive director of Camgrain, which has been at the forefront of the movement to establish supply chain partnerships with grain processors, manufacturers and retail groups.

Specialist areas of expertise
Peter has worked extensively in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands, and has a particular interest in innovation in the baking and cereals sector.

Fiona Anderson – The Food and Drink Forum

After graduating with a BSc in Catering Administration, Fiona began her career working in hospitality in the USA for Marriott Hotels. She moved to Pizza Hut to assist with the establishment of Pizza Hut delivery units in the south central areas of Los Angeles. On returning to the UK, she co-developed a Microsoft windows application for point of sale and management reporting for small businesses. She later became assistant to the MD for the agricultural division of Cargill PLC (now Frontier). 

Fiona joined the Food and Drink Forum as Membership Manager before becoming Operations Manager and then Managing Director in 2006. Fiona is a graduate of the Common Purpose Matrix programme and also has Open University qualifications in Managing Change and Managing Resources.

Specialist areas of expertise
Fiona’s key areas of expertise straddle the private, public and not for profit sectors. They include managing change, business strategy and development, economic development, and partnership working.

David Williams - Butt Foods Limited

David Williams, is Managing Director of Butt Foods Ltd, Nottingham. He had five years experience working with supermarket retailers in fresh foods management, before launching the award-winning Butt Foods Ltd in 1990 with Mr Mazhar Butt. The specialist bread company continues to be at the cutting edge of bakery innovation, and is one of the most sophisticated bakeries in Europe.

Specialist areas of expertise
Developing and growing smaller businesses by driving innovation, finding niche markets and creating products to fulfil that market demand.

David Short - Clegg Food Projects Ltd

Chairman of Clegg Food Projects Ltd, David Short, has been working in the construction industry side of the food and drink sector since 1970. During his previous position, with Northern Foods, he was involved in the expansion of the group into ready meals and fresh sandwiches – working on the design and construction of modern facilities. In 1994 David joined Nottingham-based Clegg Food Projects which provides specialist project management, design, and construction and refurbishment services to the food and drink sector nationally. He has also carried out work with Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association on the construction of food factories.

Specialist areas of expertise
David has particular expertise in hygiene conditions, hygiene regimes for food manufacturing, and equipment processing and building fabric.

Adrian Pryce - Northampton Business School

Adrian is a senior lecturer at Northampton Business School in the Business and International Management division following a career spanning banking, travel & tourism and the food industry. He is currently chair of the Strategy Advisory Panel for the Food & Drink iNet project, and serves on the Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership’s Food Group.

Adrian holds a B.Sc. (Econ) from the University of Wales, and an MBA from Barcelona, Spain. Fluent in Spanish, he has more than 20 years international experience through senior roles and consulting assignments with multinationals, including a one year assignment with the World Bank. This complements his experience with small & medium enterprises, both as a consultant and as an entrepreneur – outside of academic life he continues to have an active involvement in the food industry, as his private company acts as UK agent for large Spanish food producers.

He is a Rotarian, a board member of a local theatre and is also chairman of a homelessness charity and its social enterprise trading arm.

Specialist areas of expertise

Adrian’s research and consultancy interests are in the area of strategic planning and corporate governance. 

Christopher Peters – Pork Farms Ltd

Chris, who is Managing Director of Pork Farms Ltd, started his career in the early 80’s at Smith and Nephew in Hull and has continued over the last 30 years to progress his career in the food industry, working for several large well-known food companies including Needlers, Northern Foods plc, Colman’s of Norwich, Geest plc and Hibernia Foods UK before setting up and running his own consultancy business in 2003 which specialized in the turn-around of food companies. In 2007 Chris was asked to join Pork Farms Ltd as Managing Director and has successfully restructured and turned the company into the profitable, well-known and respected company of today.

Specialist areas of expertise
Chris has experience in customer service, quality and innovation.  He also deals with and has formed good relationships with major high street food retailers.  
 
 

Pete Robertson - Sarnies Ltd and The Flavour Base Sauce Company Ltd

Peter Robertson jointly runs Sarnies, a supplier to the sandwich industry, and The Flavourbase Sauce Company, with business partner Chris Ford. A chemistry graduate from The University of Leeds, Peter joined United Biscuits after graduating, working in the emerging Crisp and Snack Division.

Since then he has held a number of positions at other food groups, including Dalgety and Lion Mark Holdings, as well as the international ingredients company Griffith Laboratories. He and Chris launched their own business during the mid nineties.

Peter is a firm believer in the benefit for small companies of working together and a strong supporter of ‘collaborate to innovate’.

Specialist areas of expertise
Identification of market sectors suitable for exploitation by small businesses. Innovation and product development for the small business.

Rod Goss - Melton Foods

Finance Director at Melton Foods (part of the Samworth Group), Rod Goss, has worked for a number of household name companies during his career. After graduating from Durham University with a degree in maths and economics, he qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloittes, before starting work with Procter & Gamble. After ten years with Procter and Gamble and then Mars, Rod moved to Geest plc in 1991.

He joined Geest plc as Group Financial Controller, before becoming acting Group Finance Director. He then moved to chilled and frozen food firm Cavaghan & Gray plc, who were subsequently taken over by Northern Foods. After leaving Northern Foods, Rod spent two years as a consultant before joining United Milk plc as Finance Director in 2001. After the sale of United Milk in 2004 he joined Samworth Brothers, where he became Finance Director of Saladworks, which produces ready meals, and then Finance Director of Melton Foods.

Specialist areas of expertise
Rod has wide financial experience, including corporate finance, treasury, financial planning and financial control.

Tim Sutton - Fresh Growth Solutions

Tim is a highly focused Director, Board Member and Advisor experienced in plc, family owned and private companies with extensive contacts in the wider retail and Fresh Food industry. High profile sales, marketing, N.B.D. and leadership roles have delivered growth and innovation through partnership with key targeted customers delivering sector leading returns. Tim was a key member of small leadership group (with Gareth Voyle widely seen as the Best CEO/leader in the industry!) that shaped the strategy and delivered the GEEST profitable growth from c£20m to > £1,000m. Tim is widely recognised and respected for contributions made to the Fresh Food sector and for outstanding commitment, drive and personal integrity.

In 2010 Tim launched Fresh Growth Solutions, working as a consultant/advisor offering his 30 years of experience to a number of businesses in the food and wider market. These clients and projects vary from a 2nd generation family food business in turnaround stage, new food start ups brands/businesses, various discussions with V.C’s and the P.E. sector, helping leaders, M.D.’s and businesses with Strategic growth plans, supporting SME’s and entrepreneurs, training commercial teams and senior managers and the core business of Coaching/Mentoring of M.D.s /Senior managers from a range of businesses.

Specialist areas of expertise
Tim’s areas of expertise include: providing clear leadership to business, functional teams and the supply chain. Delivering growth and change strategies in the fresh food, produce and fish sectors. Building industry winning teams and delivering both product and market innovation.  His experience spans plc, new start up and family owned business cultures.

Kevin Woods  - QV Foods Ltd 

Kevin Woods is Business Development Manager at Lincolnshire-based firm QV Foods. He has worked at the company, which produces and processes fresh produce, mainly potatoes, since January 1994 in a variety of roles, including accounts, system administration, factory manager, general manager and project manager. Kevin previously worked as an auditor in local government. His current role at QV Foods, which is based at Holbeach Hurn, near Spalding, is retail focused.

Specialist areas of expertise
Kevin has links with all the major retailers in the UK, and has particular expertise in new concept development for the retail market.

Daniel Griffiths - Agrica McCoy Ltd

Daniel, who is Managing Director of Agrica McCoy Ltd, began his career in the food industry leading operations at Stonegate Ltd, initially heading the operations within the Food Processing Division and following a successful change and growth programme took on the group packing and distribution role.  Following the merger of Deans Foods and Stonegate, he took a position on the new board of Noble Foods, leading the turnaround of the new merged entity and eventually being appointed Managing Director of the group’s second largest division, Egg Products Division.
 
Daniel left Noble Foods in 2009 to attend Harvard Business School to develop and build on his business management and specifically food and agribusiness expertise. On completion he became MD of Agrica McCoy Ltd, successfully representing a private equity fund with particular focus within the food and agri-sector with interests in Europe, Africa and the US. 

Daniel is also a Board member of 5-pl, an exciting new start-up delivering significant improvements to the UK supply chain through collaborative use of assets within the logistics industry.
 
Specialist areas of expertise
Daniel has particular interest in business turnaround and growth projects within all areas of the food and agri-business sector. He also has particular experience and further interest in delivering successful investments in emerging economies. 

Fiona Carter – Browne Jacobson LLP

Fiona Carter is Corporate Regulation Partner at Browne Jacobson LLP, one of the largest law firms in the Midlands with offices in Nottingham, Birmingham and London. With over 500 staff this is a full service law firm. Fiona, who is uniquely qualified as a Solicitor Advocate, has over 20 years experience in Food Law and Regulatory Law. As an Advocate, she has represented clients in a wide variety of courts and tribunals and leads a team of lawyers who represent companies facing regulatory enquiries or prosecutions.

Specialist areas of expertise

Fiona is an acknowledged expert in Food Law, and Packaging and Labelling Law, and heads the Food and Drink Team. Another important specialism is her advertising and marketing practice. Both specialisms demand a thorough understanding of European legislation, which is increasingly paramount.
Fiona also advises on a wide range of legislation implemented by regulators ranging from Trading Standards, HSE, FSA, VOSA, The Environment Agency, BIS, OFT and the ASA.